Resources available to department chairs from the following sources are described: the department's discipline; the national higher education community; the local institution; and the chair's own skills, background, roles, and structural placement within the organization. The use of these resources to deal with common problems faced by chairs is also addressed. Resources arising from the department's discipline include accreditation procedures, standards for curriculum and staffing, consulting services, workshops, specialized publications, and colloquium visitors or other faculty exchanges. The national higher education community offers specialized training for chairs and publishes journals and resource materials. Institutional resources such as the archives, administrative reports, and database access form an important part of the strategic resources of the chair. Institutional information can provide the context for funding requests as well as data to document specific needs. These resources, and the personal leadership of the chair, can be used to enhance departmental productivity, educational service delivery, and planning and resource availability. (SW)